Better Dividend Stock: Alphabet vs. AT&T

Core Insights - The article discusses the contrasting dividend strategies of Alphabet and AT&T, highlighting the trade-off between high yield and growth potential in dividend-paying stocks [2][15]. Group 1: Alphabet - Alphabet initiated a dividend program last year and raised its payout by 5% to $0.21 per share, resulting in a yield of approximately 0.4% [4][5]. - Over the past five years, Alphabet's earnings per share have increased by 29.4% annually, with free cash flow reaching around $66.7 billion, of which less than 15% was used for dividends [5][11]. - Alphabet's strong market position in advertising and cloud computing, along with its dominance in the search engine and browser markets, positions it well for long-term growth [6][7]. Group 2: AT&T - AT&T's earnings per share have only increased by 15.8% over the past five years, partly due to the spinoff of media assets and loss of wireline connections [8][9]. - The company offers a high dividend yield of around 4%, which is about ten times that of Alphabet, but has not increased its dividend since a reduction in 2022 [10][11]. - AT&T's free cash flow was $19.6 billion over the past 12 months, more than double its dividend obligation, and is expected to remain sufficient despite a projected decline in wireline revenue [11][12]. Group 3: Investment Considerations - For long-term investors, Alphabet may provide better growth potential in dividend income, while AT&T may be more suitable for those closer to retirement seeking immediate income [15][16]. - If projected earnings growth rates continue, Alphabet's yield on cost could surpass AT&T's by 2035, making it a more attractive option for long-term investment [16].